Counter



(No Model.)

J. S. DUNLAP.

COUNTER.

Patented Feb. 22

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IOIIN S. DUNLAP, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

COUNTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,025, dated February 22. 1887.

Application (ied November 20, i886. Serial N0. 219,443. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Beit known that l, JOHN S. DUNLAP, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Counters; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to counters for stores.

The object of the invention is to produce a counter of such construction as to enable it to be made where material and labor are cheap, and capable of being compactl y packed for convenience in shipping; furthermore, the object of the invention is to produce a counter having a top which is capable of being vertically adjusted at will.

Vith these objects in view myinvention resides, primarily, in a counter made of sections held in place by braces placed upon the outside and inside of the counter, the sections and braces being secured together by bolts or screws in such manner that by removing the screws or bolts the counter may be packed iu small space; f urthermore,the invention resides in a counter having a top which is readily adjustable to change the height thereof.

I have illustrated the invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a perspective view of a counter made in accordance with my inven tion, a portion being shown in section in order to show the arrangement of parts. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the means for securing the parts together' and for raising and lowering the top of the counter, and Fig. 3 represents a sectional view of a modified form of device for regulating the height of the counter.

In the drawings, A represents a number of sections, preferably of wood, adapted to be placed one upon the other to form the front of a counter. The adjacent edges of these sections are formed at the proper angles to forni broad bearing-surfaees when paneled or other ornamental fronts are made. The preferred manner of securing the sections together in setting up the counter is by binding them between braces placed upon the outsideand upon the inside of the counter. The outside or front brace is preferably ornamental, and

of such shape as to conform to the contour of the completed counter. In the present embodiment of the invention the pilasters B form the outer brace, and the inner brace is formed by the place C, preferably of metal. convenience in manufacture the pilaster is made, preferably, of cast metal, painted to correspond with the other exposed parts of the counter.

The bolts D, which secure the sections in place and bind them between the braces,are so arranged as not to be visible from the front. This end is attained by embedding the head of the bolt in a socket in the inner face of the pilaster and passing the shank through the section and the inner plate or brace, where it is secured by a nut.

The opening in the pilast-er for the reception of the head of the bolt is large enough at the upper end, at d, to permit the introduc tion of the head of the bolt, and the lower portion is only wide enough to receive the shank of the bolt, so that by introducing the head of the bolt and allowing it to drop down in the opening a firm fastening is provided. v

Instead of introducing the head of the bolt into the opening in the pilaster, it may, when so desired, be embedded in one ofthe sections. In this ease the inner plate or base would be made of heavier material than when the parts were secured together in the manner first dcscribed in order to hold the sections firmly in place, and the pilaster would be attached by nailing or in a similar manner.

Vhen the counters are made in nnnibers,.it is most convenient and economical to make the corresponding parts of the same size and dimensions. Different heights of counters are, however, required in different situations, and it is therefore desirable that it be possible to raise and lower the top vwithout disturbing the other parts of the counter. This is accomplished by providing the top of the counter with depending projections E, which t in sockets F, formed in the lower part of the counter, preferably the upper section. The lower end of the projections rest on the pins G, which may be placed in any one of the holes g, in order to regulate the height of the counter.

Instead of the means just described for adjusting the top of the counter, I may utilize ICO the pawl-and-ratchet device shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In this form the projection from the counter is provided with notches h, which are entered by the end hI of the springpawl h', which projects far enough to form a handle for grasping in changing the position of the top.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a counter, the combination of a series of differently -inclined sections placed one above another and having their contiguous edges approximately in contact, internal and external braces conforming substantially to the contour of said sections, and bolts connecting said external and internal braces, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A counter made up of a series of sections resting one upon the other and having beveled formed with sockets F, adapted to receive the 3o proj eotions of the top, and the adjustable pins G, adapted to support the projections at different heights in the sockets, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof Iafx my signature in 3 5 presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN S. DUNLAP. Vitnesses:

J. E. CLARK, A. KEITHLEY. 

